User:KJ010110/PIVOT

Military Pilot Supply of Texas (DBA FlyBoys Inc.) is a privately owned aviation accessory company based in Spring, Texas U.S.A. that produces a wide variety of commercial and military aviation accessories and pilot gear. The company offers a broad line of shock resistant and drop resistant cases for a wide variety of tablet devices. These cares are marketed under the brand name PIVOT as the new standard for mounted electronic flight bag devices, and a wide range of portable aircraft mounting solutions for tablets - both suction cup style and Long Term Removable Mount (LTRM) deployment options.

History

In 2010, a sea change took place regarding computing devices being used as Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) platforms. Expensive aircraft dedicated EFB systems were suddenly being challenged by low-cost tablets. These devices could do virtually the same non-flight critical computational tasks and do them at a fraction of the cost.

The Apple iPad became the disruptive technology that changed the way both airlines and aviation regulators viewed portable EFB systems. The acceptance of the Apple iPad as a viable EFB platform was the primary cause for a dramatic uptick in the implementation of EFB programs worldwide. With its superb design (human factors), low cost and flexibility, the iPad won scores of airlines and tens of thousands of pilots as loyal customers. Soon thereafter Microsoft, Lenovo, Panasonic and a host of other tablet manufacturers entered into the EFB arena offering highly competitive devices to be used as portable computing platforms.

When focusing on the EFB hardware, the demand from the airlines has always been for the highest price/value combination for the platform. The overall program must lower costs, have easy deployment processes and allow for fast, simplified approvals from their regulator.

Today, the widespread proliferation of numerous COTS tablet devices has created a significant demand for a way to securely protect and hold the EFB while allowing it to be mounted for use in all phases of flight. The complete solution has to be affordable and easy to deploy for virtually any airline operator.

As a major North American airline was refreshing their EFB program, they engaged a group of pilots to contribute insights and thoughts on the tablet EFB hardware solutions being reviewed. One participant, Captain C. Michael Schulter, saw a significant weakness in virtually all the EFB hardware options being considered. None of the deployment solutions allowed the tablet to be mounted without first being removed from its protective case.

Schulter decided to search-out a viable offering for a protective case that could easily be attached to a mount so the tablet can be used in all phases of flight. As no solution was found that met the need, Captain Schulter made the decision to build one.

Products - PIVOT Case

The result ended-up being the PIVOT case - a robust, ventilated protective housing that contains a universal attachment clip. This clip allows the case to be easily attached to virtually any mount structure that is deployed with the patented PIVOT attachment plate. In the brief four years since its introduction, the PIVOT case has gained a wide following. It has been adopted as the Case-of-Choice by more than 50 leading commercial airlines around the globe. And with a failure rate of less than 0.1% - it is providing its customer untold savings by virtually eliminating tablet damage. PIVOT cases are available for most all the popular tablet devices being used as an EFB.Click here to learn why PIVOT is the leading case for EFB deployments.

Portable Suction Cup Mounts

Suction cup portable attachment devices remain a highly viable option for use in device retention and security and have been embraced by many operators. There are many reasons why an operator may elect to use a suction cup mount solution:

• It was gained both FAA and EASA regulatory approval as a portable mount.
• Wide variety of readily available options allows for rapid deployment opportunities.
• Low acquisition cost minimizes budgetary constraints.
• Until the long range EFB “end state” for implementations is known, it is a viable and easy-to-deploy solution.

Today, the company offers a wide variety of PanaVise brand suction cup mounts – all of which are available with the PIVOT patented attachment plate to enable deployment with the PIVOT case.Click here to see the full line of PIVOT Suction Cup Mounts.

However, in many areas of the world local aviation authorities have lost confidence in certain suction cup providers where design limitations have resulted in less than optimum reliability in all phases of flight. Additionally, the lack of standardization for installation locations has become an added concern as an improper placement could impact safety of flight. Clearly, another affordable alternative deployment solution is critically needed.

Portable Long Term Removable Mounts

While Captain Schulter’s success with the PIVOT case showed how it could be easily attached to mounts already being deployed…he still saw an unfilled gap - an affordable portable mount with robust installed mount-like capabilities but without the complexities of an STC.

Working with colleagues and industrial designers, a collaborative effort created a formed metal plate that “snaps-into-place” on existing aircraft side window shrouds or other structures without the need to remove any existing parts. The structure is provisioned with a movable mount arm and equipped with the PIVOT case attachment plate which allows easy slide-on/slide-off fitment of the PIVOT case. As a metal structure, this plate offered significant more rigidity and robust capabilities than a suction cup mount. And because it is placed in virtually the same location as STC-installed mounts - it provides virtually the same functionality. The only difference…because it can be snapped-in-place without the use of any tools, it is a totally “portable” solution.

Captain Schulter appropriately named the product “Long Term Removable Mount” (LTRM)…as that is exactly what it is. This revolutionary product line bridges the gap between entry level suction cup mounts and an installed STC mount and offers users an affordable best of both worlds solution.

• LTRM designs leverage available cockpit structures and material characteristics so to look and feel like they are a part of the aircraft.
• Each style is made to be manually affixed to the aircraft window without tools or hardware. PIVOT LTRM solutions overcome the business, economic, and operational challenges (or obstacles) posed by installed mounts or suction cups.
• LTRMs provide for a fully secure EFB device with a non-invasive, non-permanent base unit providing performance and reliability on par or better than typical installed STC mounts

Click here to learn about "The Portable Mount with an Installed Mount Feel".

FAA/EASA Approved

Each PIVOT LTRM fully adheres to the spirit and intent of the applicable guidance from the FAA and EASA governing regulations – both FAA AC120-76D and EASA AMC 20-25. In the context of the FAA AC 120-76D, EFB equipment components supporting EFB applications are “installed” when they are incorporated into aircraft type design under 14 CFR Part 21, or as a proper alteration under 14 CFR part 43, § 43.3. All other components supporting EFB functionality are considered “portable,” regardless of how often they are removed from the aircraft. A portable EFB is a portable EFB host platform, used on the flight deck, which is not part of the certified aircraft configuration. The PIVOT LTRM™ solutions meet or exceed all the defined regulatory criteria for use as Portable EFB Hardware Components supporting EFB applications.